CPH & Lutheran Homeschoolers

CPH & Lutheran Homeschoolers

From Cheryl Swope | May 7, 2019 | Faith, Teaching Resources

Over the past seven years we have attempted to assist CPH, the publishing arm of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, to serve families who homeschool. We have accomplished this largely by compiling long lists of requests from in-the-trenches Lutheran homeschooling families! This article serves as an overview of these attempts.

Timeline:

At a CCLE conference in 2012 then-director of LCMS School Ministry, Bill Cochran, told me that the LCMS wanted to better serve homeschooling families and asked for my help. I had been leading sessions on Lutheran homeschooling at CCLE conferences.

In early 2013 we began with a meeting at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis. The meeting consisted of Bill Cochran and Rev. Bart Day who, at the time, led National Missions for the LCMS.

In May of that year I met with Bill Cochran, Dr. Rodney Rathmann, then-CPH exec at the LCMS International Center, and the upcoming director of LCMS School Ministry, Terry Schmidt. These were my notes to CPH at that time. LCMS School Ministry heartily supported these efforts. I surveyed the 150 Lutheran homeschoolers on our CCLE Homeschool group and shared these thoughts:

From the Homeschoolers: Thank you to CPH for your desire to help homeschooling families! We hope to continue in these discussions for the benefit of CPH, our Lutheran schools, our Lutheran congregations, and our Lutheran families.

Our Most Appreciated CPH Resources Available Today

Thank you for continuing to produce such strong materials for teaching the Lutheran faith. Distinctively Lutheran resources, such as the books and CD’s we would find nowhere else, are the reasons we most appreciate our Synod’s own publishing house! Please continue to provide these excellent materials for families and consider including all of these under the CPH website “homeschool” search:

A Bible History and workbook

A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories, A. Gross

Concordia’s Complete Bible Handbook for Students

Colors I See in Church, Things I See in Church (J. Stiegemeyer) AND All Julie Stiegemeyer books!

Everyday Life in Bible Times

Follow and Do Series (change the title – Six Chief Parts for Little Ones), Joni Walker

Hero of the Faith series

Hymns for All Saints series of CD’s

Inside the Reformation

Listening to Luther Catechism CD, Hymns

Lutheran Service Book

Lutheran Study Bible (ESV)

Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation

My First Catechism and Workbook

One Hundred Bible Stories

Reading the Psalms with Luther

Sing the Faith Catechism CD and Songbook

The Story Bible

To All Eternity

Treasury of Daily Prayer & CD

Worshiping with the Angels and Archangels, Ordering Our Days in His Peace, Behold the Lamb

Create a Clear Homeschool or Family Section of Resources – in website and catalog

Currently only 9 miscellaneous resources appear with a “homeschool” search on CPH website. (All of the above CPH resources could be listed right now for these families!) Currently no clear Homeschool tab appears on website. Even if listed under either Education or Family (or both), these could be better organized for efficient purchase by homeschoolers.

Group Best Resources by Age of Child, not by alphabet – in website and catalog

Currently resources on website appear alphabetically – Bible Maps, Bible Plush Pals…. Homeschoolers will purchase more resources as they search quickly by age, but might not have the time to search ten pages of varied alphabetized products to try to determine everything available for children in the desired age group.

Emphasize Quality over Quantity, even (especially) for children

Produce the good, the true, and the beautiful; avoid the “cartoonish”. See list of our Lutheran homeschoolers’ appreciated and preferred CPH resources. Example: The Story Bible, one of our group’s favorite CPH resources for children.

Incorporate memory work and substantive content in materials designed to teach Bible history, church history, hymns, the liturgy, the Holy Scriptures, and the Confessions to children. Integrate such pedagogical approaches to create supplements to existing CPH resources.

5. Create Flash Cards for Teaching the Small Catechism and Church History

In May 2017 I met with CPH, this time with a cadre of ten individuals at the St. Louis CPH building. At this meeting CPH announced that it would begin an education blog specifically for homeschoolers. CPH also stated that, among other things, several free teaching guides would be created just for homeschoolers. CPH created a specific Homeschool drop-down option on the CPH website!

In May 2018 after monthly communications 2017-2018, I met again with CPH, this time with a cadre of six individuals at the St. Louis CPH building. We discussed progress on goals. To date we had created several teaching guides for homeschoolers, posted several CPH blog posts about homeschooling, and shared names of dozens of eager, capable homeschool writers to create curriculum. I polled the 1000+ families within LCMS Homeschoolers on FB with these compiled responses:

I. Favorites – More Like This, Please!
-“My First Hymnal”
-“Worshiping with the Angels and Archangels.”
–https://music.cph.org/2017-18-family-devotions-guide.
-We’ve been using the “Children’s Garden of Bible Stories” and the corresponding workbooks and have been enjoying them.
-We also love the “Color and Wonder” books!

II. General Requests
A. Free Shipping!
1. Or at least if you spend a certain amount. So many times I want to order but end up not, because shipping is prohibitive.
2. Or a prime type pay shipping once for the year!
3. I often shop elsewhere for a similar product just because CPH has no free shipping option.
4. I ordered when I got a special free shipping if you spend a certain amount but then didn’t get free shipping because it only counted for things in that particular sales catalog…it was just irritating.

B. Improve Website!
1. I think, as a whole, there are some AMAZING resources available through CPH, but they can be difficult to find even if you know what you’re looking for, and completely impossible to find if you don’t know the exact title.
2. Make best resources clearly available. (For example, I LOVE LOVE LOVE “My First Hymnal” and “Worshiping with the Angels and Archangels.” I love https://music.cph.org/2017-18-family-devotions-guide.) I want more resources like these without having to hunt through obscure links or old bookmarks!

C. Affirm Homeschooling as Education
1. Encourage CPH to see that our homeschooling is Lutheran education.
2. Do not define homeschoolers but understand they represent a broad spectrum.

D. Create a Lutheran Vocab List
1. A place on the CPH blog or website listing already existing Lutheran material, including Edward Naumann’s Latin Small Catechism (it has all the vocab).
2. I’d love to write a Lutheran vocabulary list with definitions that CPH could keep, and modify as needed, on its website – including liturgical words
(Mary Moerbe’s idea – she could do this)

E. Collaborative Lutheran Resources or Blog Listing Available Resources for Lutherans
1. It would be nice to see resources come together rather than CPH reinventing a new wheel – we have Wittenberg Academy, Concordia Catechetical Academy, Higher Things…rather than working independently, working collaboratively would create much stronger resources and products. Work smarter, not harder.
2. Blog with Amazing Lutheran Resources – Sometimes I think I’d like to create a blog with all LCMS resources because they’re plentiful…after I wrote this I was thinking of the art study I printed and bound from Concordia Chicago. We have so many LCMS resources already, it seems taking the overall base and THEN building from there would be beneficial. Our church body is in a wonderful position to lead the way. Thank you, Cheryl Swope for leading the way!
(Katerina Luciano’s idea – she could do this)
3. Yes, I would love to see them work with Bender to make a homeschool religion course based off of what he has already done.
4. A comprehensive, organized list or resource in which to share our ideas (especially for those who choose not to be part of social media). I’d love to see a monthly magazine with church year craft ideas, book party ideas, articles like “how to start a co-op at your church” or a featured missionary’s story and country to study. CPH could market their resources with ideas of how to use them in a homeschool environment. I often feel like I am reinventing the wheel, only to find others who feel the same way.

F. Periodical – print & digital
A LCMS homeschool periodical resource! I feel like the Lutheran homeschool pioneer in my area and with so many others, it is unnecessary. Simply periodically showcasing an LCMS homeschool family and their ideas, struggles, successes could benefit others.

G. Full homeschool curriculum
1. I’d be happy if cph came out with full homeschool curriculum but it can be set up to be used flexibly. It would make sense to start with Bible and Bible history before moving forward to other subjects.
2. I hope cph will eventually develop all subjects like many others do, so we can pick the subjects and resources we want to use.
3. have been trying to put together high school religion courses for my teen and would love something more streamlined from CPH. Topics/themes like church history, Christian living and worldview, vocation, liturgical living through the church year, lutheran doctrine, geography of Biblical times.
There are lots of resources that CPH has for each of these topics. A separate curriculum, while awesome, wouldn’t necessarily be essential. Creating a curriculum plan that utilizes existing resources and lays out a plan for how to go through the materials and suggestions for activities and assignments. (Anna Born’s idea)
4. SCOPE & SEQUENCE! These books available to homeschoolers is nice, but it seems to be a lot of random resources that we need to go through and figure out what to do with. What does CPH see as the scope and sequence of a Bible curriculum from K-12 and what are the resources that fit into that curriculum? In order for it to be considered a ‘curriculum,” I need to understand the plan of what I am teaching and what will be covered over my children’s years at home. Then I can see if that fits with my goals for them or if I want to supplement other materials.
5. Not Common Core

H. Table of Contents in Books with Sample pages!
1. Add table of contents and sample pages to their homeschool friendly books.
2. Even if too late for the book itself, place these on the website.

III. Requests for Specific Resources
A. Individual Hymn Supplements
1. I would love an option to buy hymn accompaniments individually. I love having the accompaniments through the My First Hymnal recordings and I completely support the price of Concordia Organist CD set but I can’t drop $700 for the whole hymnal. I could, however, spend a dollar or even a few dollars to buy each hymn or liturgy as we need it as an mp3. I know the My First Hymnal tracks are available on amazon is individual mp3s. I’d love to see that for the rest of the hymns and ideally for the whole hymnal.
2. Hymns are high on our list too! As Emily and Jayme suggested, both playable for young learners and accessible for the family to listen to at home. My $700 for the Organist set hasn’t ever made the final homeschool budget either

B. Hymn Books for Lutheran Piano Students
1. Hymnal accompaniment for young learners. An update that reflects LSB choices would be great.
2. Lutheran hymns for beginning piano students.

C. Biblical Studies all grades
1. Biblical commentaries meant for kids. A very detailed set of books that goes through all 66 books of the bible but at a kids (first through sixth grade) level.
2. Complete homeschool curriculum available to by as a set or individually. A Bible study series including studies for prek-high school that is NOT a devotional and not a Bible storybook. Discussion questions, language and history studies included when appropriate. Cut and paste crafts and coloring sheets should not be the main activities to complement a child’s Bible study. The lessons should be 15-20mins long for younger grades and a bit longer for older students.
3. A bible and small catechism curriculum that includes increasingly difficult memory work and bible readings that have them read through an easy reader bible in elementary and NIV, NASB, ESV, or KJV in middle and high school. Ideally, they would read through the bible 3 times and have increasing depth.
4. What about a teacher’s guide and/or (reproducible) workbooks with copywork, dictation, and narration exercises from Scripture, catechism, hymns and Confessions? I know we can mine these resources ourselves, and we often prefer that, but there are seasons of life/children where being able to grab a scripted resource and/or a workbook and just get it done would be a relief.
Dr. Gene Veith and Joanna Hensley (wife to Lutheran pastor in Australia) helped with writing a full curriculum for another publisher.

D. Science – CREATION
1. Creation-based!
2. Yes, creation! Why must we depend on people that may have differing approaches to theology to make the materials we use?
3. It is ridiculous that the LCMS schools largely just use secular science materials and that the synod does not have ANYTHING for the schools in this area to the point that LCMS trained teachers have no idea how to teach the topic (in some cases).

E. Things I See in Church, Colors I See in Church
Note: We have had MANY requests to bring these little books back!

F. Catechism, Guides, Resources for Parents of Young Children – not limited to homeschooling
1. Some sort of guide for using the Catachism with young ones would be great.
2. a parents division of CPH. There’s a kids section there’s a teachers section there’s pastors and music sections, but there’s nothing specifically for parents trying to teach their children at home. Just doesn’t even have to be homeschooling. Everybody just says use the small catechism. But honestly that’s a lazy response. CPH spend tootles of dollars making books for everything from women’s devotionals and Bible studies to kids stories to pastoral helps. Why can’t they have a series of books specifically designed to instruct parents how to best teach their children about the truths of the Catechism, the truth of the Scriptures? As a denomination we heart on how it’s the parents responsibility to teach their children about the faith. I agree, it’s a biblical principle. But with this being the case I find it almost criminal that there’s been no significant attention to providing support to parents in achieving this task.
2. I’ve also looked and not found much appropriate. There’s Lutheranism 101 for kids, lots of Bible stories books, and a children’s version of the small catechism. They have their limitations and don’t really cover all ages in a way that’s helpful for long-term, in-depth education.
3. A version of the Treasury of Daily Prayer, but written with families with young children in mind. I know many Lutheran School Teachers who struggle with finding with meaty enough devotions for use with kids. The My Devotions seems pretty weak anymore. Something meaty, but still accessible for use with kids.

G. Church History & Bios for Children – More like Heroes of Faith!
1. Lutheran “readers” on great Lutherans as well as influential people such as John Calvin, John Wesley, but from a Lutheran understanding.
2. I would love a curriculum for teaching elementary age children church history, or history in general with a Lutheran understanding. I also love the ideas mentioned above about well written, living books for kids that teach church history.
3. Bible material prek-highschool that is very meaty and deeply liturgical. The current kids’ offerings are nice but they never go as deep as they should kids are smart we don’t belive in dumbing down the bible for them why are we dumbing down church history and liturgy?
4. CPH supplements to the Classical Conversations (CC) curriculum. Like timeline cards to add to the CC timeline and things like that. That sort of thing would be really helpful.
5. I like the idea of having material supplementation. Lutheran and Church History timeline cards, daily devotional or catechesis helps, etc. things that can be supplemented into any existing curriculum or replace troublesome parts of other curriculums. This would be a huge help.
6. I like the idea of lcms specific history supplements! Maybe they could be created to use with any history program with notes on when to stick them in, and extra study resources like timeline cards (moh also uses a timeline), and supplemental activities. It’s fun to think of all the possibilities.
7. More biographies of men and women who are important figures in our history would be great!
8. I would also love to see a workbook/lesson plan/teachers guide to go with the Heroes of Faith biography series.

H. Apologetics
More focus on Apologetics for *every* age. This is so vital, and so misunderstood, right now.

I. CM Curriculum
A Lutheran version of Simply Charlotte Mason would be ideal in that it would appeal across many styles of homeschoolers. They have “Workbooks” for many subjects, and books that get read along with workbooks. I think we all realize that someone has to write and create these materials, and they don’t likely have a lot of knowledge on the subject in house. So, tell us and teach us how to contribute. Many of us are educated, I am not a Lutheran educator, but I am a Historian. What would they be looking for in contributors? Shoot, I am still trying to figure out blogging, but I did start a LCMS Charlotte Mason Facebook page. I think a lot of us would like to help. I will graduate my first in the next 2 years. I am starting to get it, lol. We certainly are growing, and we are getting pickier about our materials now that there is a pretty large market and much more support. CPH is a trusted publisher even outside our synod, I think the market is there.

J. Writing Program
If CPH could offer a something like a hybrid between Progymnasmata Through the Church Year and Writing & Rhetoric at an affordable price, I would be a happy customer.

K. Bring Back Voyages
1. I would like to see them bring back some of the Voyages series, with a TE and a student workbook and memory book available. Specifically, the Church History and Contemporary Issues half semesters for middle school were excellent, as were the 5th and 6th grade Bible curricula. There is nothing wrong with the current offering, but those Voyages curricula were very meaty ones, and since catechism training is done elsewhere at our church, it was nice to have the strong Bible, history, and social issues emphases to cover at home. (My impression of the current curricula is that they focus very heavily on catechism training.) They still have the church history and contemporary issues student guides, but the TE only for the church history one. Plus I get the feeling that it’s just leftovers, not being printed anymore.
2. Yes, I love how the church history flowed right into today’s missions.

L. Home Supplement for CPH Growing in Christ
A supplement to the Growing in Christ Sunday school curriculum to use at home. So for example, the kids go to church on Sunday and learn the story of Noah. What I’m suggesting is having a curriculum for parents to expand on that story more at home. Even if it’s just all the parent notes from the student leaflets and the everyday faith family pages organized together as a download. However, I think there is an age, middle school maybe, where the “Family connections” section is no longer on the student leaflets, so this suggestion probably only works for the elementary age.

M. Saints
Resources for younger students

N. Bible Reading Notebook Based on the Lectionary
I’d like to see a Bible-reading notebooking resource like this based on the lectionary: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433556863. Actually, that doesn’t sound too hard. Maybe I’ll make one.

O. Online Classes
Online classes, pre-recorded so that they could be self paced and parent guided. We have so many amazing theologians in our Synod. I’d love to see some who have authored books do corresponding classes for students to do as electives.

P. Topical Studies
This is a list of things I made for myself that I have been wanting to learn about more thoroughly so I could teach my children. I post it because if CPH had some reliable teacher/student modules that covered these topics and did them in with the BoC and bible it would be fabulous.
– Evolution vs Creation (informative comparisons and teachings rather than just a cursory and dismissive approach)
– Teaching the Liturgy
– Sexual ethics (for older kids that include topics on homosexuality, co-habitation, etc.)
– Women’s roles in the church
– Kid friendly but not dumbed down devotional/nightly prayer guides or materials
– Election/Free will
– Closed vs close vs open communion
(Eric Adkins’ idea)

R. Lutheran Vocab List/Blog
1. A place on the CPH blog listing already existing Lutheran material, including Edward Naumann’s Latin Small Catechism (it has all the vocab).
2. I’d love to write a Lutheran vocabulary list with definitions that CPH could keep, and modify as needed, on its website – including liturgical words
(Mary Moerbe’s ideas)

In May 2019 after monthly communications 2018-2019, I met with CPH, this time with only three individuals from Curriculum department at the St. Louis CPH building. Prior to this meeting I again surveyed the 1000+ families within LCMS Homeschoolers on FB and gave CPH these notes:

All entries are submitted by a member of LCMS Homeschoolers on FB, spring 2019, compiled by Cheryl Swope

LCMS Homeschoolers’ Top Requests for CPH

Renee Alarid MosimanThere needs to be books or articles in Lutheran Witness on why Lutherans should homeschool. I think so many Lutherans send their kids to public school not aware of many of the problems, whereas our Christian brothers in other churches like non-denominational see the benefits. [Offered: Interview Laura Warrick & husband.]

Sarah Nafziger BokenewiczI would add that it would be nice to have Lutheran homeschooling respected by Lutheran schools and churches. It is possible to educate our children in the Lutheran faith at home. We are often shunned by our church school and many in the congregation, and there are no opportunities to participate in school activities without paying full tuition.

Brooke KeehlIt would be awesome if they could publish some resources on how congregations and pastors can support homeschoolers. Many LCMS churches do not have enough kids to open a full time school but a weekly co-op could be a great way for the church to have a “school.” Personally, my church is in a small town and my pastor has no experience with homeschooling and why it is important compared to the progressive agendas going on in the public schools. That could be as simple as a series of blog posts and maybe a Lutheran Witness on the varieties of Lutheran education, it’s not just brick and mortar.

Stacey Sears CoffeyI would like to see a Lutheran based high school Bible curriculum, for Old Testatment, New Testament, Apologetics, how Biblical principles apply in their current teen world.

Nichole BoydI would love a Church History book for the elementary set similar to “Trial and Triumph” but from a Lutheran perspective, especially around the Reformation era. It would be great if it highlighted Lutheran Church Fathers going into modern times.

Mary J. MoerbeLiterature guides to classical Christian books like Pilgrim’s Progress, Pilgrim’s Regress, Mere Christianity, and either the Book of Concord or books within the Book of Concord. They could be for junior high to high school.

Christine JonesWhat I would find really useful is a plan for using the published resources CPH already has. In my dream it would look something like this:

1. A scope and sequencefor religious education that would help me know what my kids need to learn from preschool through high school. This would help me know what to teach, and at what age to teach it. I would like a religion plan that includes basic Bible knowledge, catechism, memory work, Church history, traditions of Lutheran worship (liturgy how’s and whys, church symbols, hymns), and real life applications of how to live as a baptized child of God with examples that are not set in a classroom.

2. An orderly structure that helps me know which resources to use for different age groups. Also, help me know what to do with those materials. (Use the Story Bible for preschoolers – early readers is useful information. A teacher’s guide set up with week long lesson plans, extra discussion questions, memory work, and application activities to go with it would make the Story Bible a truly teachable resource. Or, a student workbook and teacher’s guide of some sort to use along with higher level books like the Book of Concord.)

3. Help me find and use resources that extend what my children are learning beyond what they get from CPH Sunday school and confirmation materials. Families looking for Christian homeschool curriculum probably already send their children to Sunday school and confirmation classes. Homeschool families have the time, and solid background, to be able to explore topics slowly and thoroughly. Guides to accompany many of your resources that include extra questions, projects that require research, or more time than you might think to include with more traditional teaching materials, or lessons that may take several days to complete are perfectly doable in homeschool.

4. Help me teach all my children at the same time. I would love to see Units created with teaching guides for different topics that link resources for different ages, and provide guidance for discussion, and activities or projects that can be adapted for different ages. (Take a look at Biblioplan, a history curriculum that is set up in this way).

I know my dream is grand, but some of us are already doing these kind of things on our own. If only there was an effective way to organize all of this.

Katerina LucianoWould CPH, pretty please with sugar and a cherry on top, consider releasing another edition of My First Hymnal, with exactly the same hymns but ALL verses. Kids can do it! It’s confusing for teaching and memorizing going from that to the LSB. Added: It’s so disappointing to kids when they memorize from My First Hymnal (such as the audio CD) and the hymn doesn’t have all verses, when they catch on during the service that it’s not the same, they’re discouraged. We want to teach them to love the hymnody. All of the hymns throughout the church year that are in that book are great. Excellent selection. Let’s give our kids the full course.

Jen SiekSarah Nafziger Bokenewicz yes. good comment. How do I learn, personally to humble myself as I interact with my lcms church family so I don’t further offend when the institutional schooling lifestyle creates a wall against good fellowship? We r the only ones who home educate in our church and Luther has so much to offer to families who learn together. This has been a struggle, yet I know I need to remember my personal role in healing it.

Melissa HarringtonYes! I hate having to modify what I’m using to figure out what to include with Lutheran resources.

Cassie Keener A couple years ago Higher Things did 5-6 25min videos (We Confess series) on how our confessional faith informs contemporary issues. These videos were accompanied with thought provoking questions and worked well in our group of teens and adults. Basically a lecture that is downloadable/digital content with leader questions. Another idea would be some kind of live class like above thus connecting/teaching our confessional Lutheran faith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XYJy17C4no…

Sarah Shevlin O’Briskie Homeschool Resources to support us, online options for high schoolers, better communication within congregations how to uplift homeschoolers and why it is important

Brooke Keehl As far as high school online, check out Wittenberg Academy.

Cheryl Swope Tip: For greatest impact, be specific. Assume the curriculum writers do not know what “homeschool curriculum” or “homeschool resources” would look like or how those might differ from CPH resources already available.

Brooke Keehl Any chance you could show some physical examples? That’s what helped me the most when I was starting out. Actually being able to flip through curriculum was awesome.

Jennifer LuedekeI get frustrated with the “buy the school Bible curriculum” We can not afford that many levels or to teach separate bible to 5 grades. I have mentioned to them before how wonderful it would be if there was a family curriculum. 1 lesson but with activities for various levels. The lesson may even have a deeper meaning for teens etc… coloring sheets for preschoolers, simple activities or worksheets for early elementary, and writing suggestions for older kids, family outreach suggestions or field trip ideas to deepen them meaning of the lesson.

Jennifer Luedeke Accidentally hit return. The thing is they should have this regardless of homeschool requests because all families should be teaching their children Biblical values at home. This is for all families not just homeschoolers….I believe this is why the church is not retaining so many youth….and parents have no idea how to teach it.

Laura Heimer Warrick Yes! to Jennifer Luedeke ‘s comment. Here’s an idea: Take a look at the format for Tapestry of Grace Curriculum and see how it divides a full curriculum, but specifically focus on Bible/Church History/Religious Studies from a Lutheran perspective. It divides the age groups into Lower Grammar, Upper Grammar, Dialectic and Rhetoric and provides materials based on the same theme (historical period for ToG.) It color codes supplements and reading materials by the age groups. I’d love to study the same topic and Bible lesson and have different levels of supporting materials for each child. I.e. expand the original high school idea down into the “grades.”

Diana Meers Dove I wish homeschooling was promoted by LCMS. We have a Lutheran k-8 nearby but it’s overcrowded has a chaotic feel. Plus, when we toured a few years ago it was basically a public school by curriculum choice and Lutheranism was not being promoted at all. We chose to homeschool.

April Ann Wofford We are new LCMS members but have always homeschooled. We have several Lutheran schools around us including a fantastic high school…but with 1 income, how on earth would anyone afford it. We are the only home schoolers and I feel like such an oddball.

Stacey Sears CoffeyI would like to see a Lutheran based high school Bible curriculum, for Old Testatment, New Testament, Apologetics, how Biblical principles apply in their current teen world.

Laura Heimer Warrick Ditto, I’d also like to see Church History, Lutheran Doctrine, as well as challenges for Bible memorization. I’d love it if inductive Bible Study methods were used, as well as direct instruction. The direct instruction needs to be written into the student text because, on a high school level, chances are the implementation will be student driven, and the parent/teacher may check-in for mastery and discussion. Help them understand that in high school a course of study may look like a college classroom, or it may look like families getting together with other families once a week to do activities, share a lecture, or discussion group, and that work is done individually at home. Even at home we rotate subjects, so that I look more like a coach checking in once or twice a week, and discussions sometimes happen over a meal with the rest of the family. Keeping materials, maps, supplements, tests and answer keys affordable is key. Another note: A daily plan isn’t always necessary, but a weekly plan might be helpful. Most curriculum I’ve seen for home schoolers is divided up into 36 week chunks.

Brooke Keehl Eh, this is kind of a hodge podge of different materials it looks like would be used at church during Sunday school or vbs, etc. It is a start.

Corinne Mannikko Johnson That is my feeling too. Like they just took stuff they already try to sell churches and said, hey, you can use this at home too.

Nichole BoydI would love a Church History book for the elementary set similar to “Trial and Triumph” but from a Lutheran perspective, especially around the Reformation era. It would be great if it highlighted Lutheran Church Fathers going into modern times.

Heather Bain BrandtNichole Boyd yes! I’ve wanted something on church history too. I thought I saved somewhere someone suggested for alternatives and now I don’t recall where I wrote it. If I find it I will share. It may have been in Lcms classical group on fb.

Charity H. Baker Yes to this. We hodge podge together different curriculum and try to keep them Christ centered. I am looking at teacher high school to a homeschooler again. I would love something Similar to Omnibus from Veritas Press. A history curriculum that also encompasses literature and theology. It needs a teacher’s discussion manual with assignments for the high school students to complete. It needs to follow the classical education model.

Pamela BakerI would like to have daily devotional/bible story for home school families. This could include using The Story Bible and the Growing In Faith Bible. This resource would be used 4-5 times per week – it could include morning prayer/evening prayer/noon/earlyening, a hymn of the week, season of the church year information, and catechism memory work. This could also perhaps be in a three year rotation in ordeo cover all the stories and memory work.

Corinne Mannikko Johnson Yes to this with an option to have it follow the one year lectionary so we can do at home along with what we do at church.

Corinne Mannikko Johnson Peter Bender of Peace in Sussex, WI has some excellent materials as well through Concordia Catechetical Academy. I would like to see CPH publish those.

Shanna Stewart CPH has been working on online bible studies this past year – It would be great if some were geared towards homeschoolers. Old/ New Testament history ( they could be geared toward elementary- high school- or families) it would also be great to have one geared in the fall for Reformation/ Luther

Cassie Keener Are there books/resources for how to start a cottage (2X/week) school? For example what is really needed $ and people wise?

Brooke Keehl I would love to do something like this! ….then I realize the other parents at my church and nearby churches dont think they can homeschool, even when they don’t like the public schools. BUT a cottage school, even once a week, could really help give them confidence and know they will not be all alone.

Cassie KeenerBrooke Keehl yes, I’m noticing more homeschoolers here are trending toward core classes, problem is they are not necessarily Lutheran, but many just want Christian and/or classical. I think it could be great for outreach too.

Brooke Keehl I would really like to connect with others who share a common confession. It could be an outreach as in if they want to join the cottage school they must share that confession, if not they can become members. I’m just done with the evangelical co-ops and their long drawn out, touchy-feely prayers and decision theology.

Jen Siek Brooke Keehl—you said -“I’m just done with the evangelical co-ops and their long drawn out, touchy-feely prayers and decision theology.”yes. The coop most of us are left with are getting more and more “Spirit-led” meaning the Women running the leadership are “Hearing” from the Lord on policy. red flags.

Corinne Mannikko JohnsonI love “What I See in Church” board book and similar for the younger crowd. I also love My first Hymnal and My First Catechism – lesson plans that incorporate those in a way that teaches the parts of the Divine Service for K-8. I have Dr Just’s lectures on the Liturgy and it is good, but too advanced for most of my crew.

Corinne Mannikko Johnson Just a note on My 1st Hymnal – I would really prefer to have the whole hymn and would like to have it follow more closely to the LSB, so my child could actually take it to church and really use it as her hymnal.

Martha SchaumCorinne Mannikko Johnson This is my last time through Am. History and I just received the book a year ago. I may see if I can encourage my oldest to read it this summer just to know another perspective.

Corinne Mannikko Johnson I like the Lutheranism 101 series and could see that offered with a reading schedule and lesson plans.

Amy Manley Yes! And maybe something similar for the Lutheranism 101 for kids for middle to upper elementary.

Corinne Mannikko Johnson On the NOT to do list: I was in the bookstore in STL a few years ago and saw a Science (Harcourt maybe) text book with a sticker on the front that said, “Lutheran Edition”. I don’t want that.

Sharon Philp A religion curriculum with a strong focus on memory work tied to the Small Catechism. Something that covers Bible stories and tie them to chief parts

Sharon Lindemann Meyer The Lutheran Catechesis Series published by The Concordia Catechetical Academy an auxiliary of Peace Lutheran Church, Sussex, Wi might be what your looking for.?We use it in our home, and I have used in the classroom. It is a joy to teach.

Corinne Mannikko Johnson What I really want from the publishing arm of the Synod is material that helps me develop a Lutheran identity for my family. I think my best advice if you really want to know what I would actually BUY is to give me the same content that you give adults, but write it in a way that I can read it out loud to my children. I currently own and use The Story Bible, My 1st hymnal, My 1st Catechism, Luthers Small Catechism and Treasury of Daily Prayer.

Corinne Mannikko Johnson As to Science, Social Studies, Math, English, etc the market is saturated and there is a lot of really good stuff available, so they ONLY thing CPH can really offer us is material to beef up our Lutheran identity and if they aren’t willing to do that for the schools, I dont see LCMS homeschoolers as being a big enough market to make any product profitable honestly. Sorry to keep posting, I just keep brainstorming.

Theresa Wilson Bowerman I agree with Nichole Boyd. A high school Church history from a Lutheran perspective. Also a music history highlighting the different types of music, again at the upper grade levels. There is a lot of material for young children but little good electives for 7th and up.

Mary J. MoerbeLiterature guides to classical Christian books like Pilgrim’s Progress, Pilgrim’s Regress, Mere Christianity, and either the Book of Concord or books within the Book of Concord. They could be for junior high to high school.

Heather Bain BrandtMary J. Moerbe yes! I was one who has puzzled on with Pilgrim’s Progress but would have loved a guide from Lutheran perspective. Same with C.S. Lewis or Chesterton which are books recommended often to me.

Katie Fischer Teaching the liturgy books that have the liturgy with definitions/translations (of the Latin) on the bottom with icons or other excellent art that illustrates what is going on in each section of the liturgy.

Katie Fischer We have that one and it’s good, but I was thinking something that would be for following along in the service.

Kandyce Perez I’m homeschooling kindergarten and preschool right now. The CPH materials that I use are Arch books, The Story Bible, Where Do Babies Come From, My First Hymnal, and Sing the Faith.
I would like apologetics resources for young children, a music curriculum that is super basic so that it will teach me as well, and art, liturgy, and church history resources. I would also like to see them partner with Wittenberg Academy and make their website a little easier to navigate on my phone.

Sarah Seibert Bytnar I would like a music curriculum for elementary, both younger and older. Not just suggested hymns for the month.

Michele LieskeI would love a timeline akin to the one Classical Conversations has but including the Lutheran reformation and more of a Lutheran emphasis.

Katie Bowman Vierkant Yes! Set to catchy, quality music would be even better. My kids learn so well through music.

Yvonne Bell Not homeschooling anymore, but I would love a Bible history timeline card set, similar to Veritas Press’s, with real art from the great masters (not picture book pictures) depicting the event on the front. And, on the back of each event card, I’d love a shortish summary of the event and a list of 3-5 resources for further information/study.
I’d love something like this to use with Sunday School classes!

Kyra Wurm I’m sure there are more resources I could make use of if someone took the time to lay out the scope and sequence of what is already available through CPH. And it would help me more quickly narrow my search by age and content when I’m looking for something specific.

Lauran Delancy Church history books for various grades that are not just adult level reading or designed for a classroom. In general materials that are significantly different from classroom type resources.

Michele Lieske I don’t know if anyone is familiar with the Story of the
World (SOTW) history curriculum, but I would LOVE something in a similar format for theology. I love that SOTW is cyclical. There is the basic information in each section that is presented in almost story format. Then there are basic worksheets (geography and coloring pages) but the teachers’ manual also has discussion questions and then resources for further study along with craft projects to bring the subject to life. It is a cyclical curriculum so after you’ve gone through four years of it, you repeat. Only each time you go trough it, you use the resources to delve a little deeper and increase understanding. It would be AMAZING to have a theology curriculum structured like that.

Brooke Keehl Mystery of History has a similar approach. It has 3 levels of activities so it can be used k-12. I love the audios (I know SOTW has them too). I use the audios as a time for me to nurse and change the baby or prep a meal and the “big” kids (7-10 year olds) can keep learning and stay on track.
I think CPH could do a history like that (4 chunks of time repeteting chronologically) and weave theology and science in as you travel through time. Add in literature for each level written in that time period or taking place in that time and you’d have a whole curriculum. One that the whole family would be studying the same topics together but digging deeper and doing projects/papers/literature at each kids level.
I’d like to have things that point out and ask how the 10 commandments, table of duties, specific articles and explanations of creeds and Lords prayer, etc are reflected in what we see in history and science.

Michele LieskeBrooke Keehl yes, SOTW has audios. I often use them in the car. I love how the curriculum can be used for multiple grades simultaneously. Even my 2 1/2 year old has shocked me with what she remembers!

Leah ShermanMichele Lieske Oh, this would be grand! CPH used to publish a memory book that was laid out like this. We have used it, and enjoyed it. It’s maybe a 1950ish edition- still uses the NKJ Bible. The Bible verses are organized by concept (God made all things; Jesus is true God and Man, etc), and each year has times for reviewing precious years’ lessons.

Hannah ‘Ulrich’ Batten “Martin Luther’s got your back”-a pocket guide to the hard social issues that will come up against outside of your house, and once you leave home. What we believe about them, what others may say why we are wrong, and why you can stand firm knowing Martin Luther and Jesus have your back on the answers to lifes toughest social questions. Reason being after teaching high school youth group, I found that the kids about to leave for college were hungry for answers and almost needed a faith booster because the crutch of their parents faith was not going to be right beside them. Even attending CUW, I came across other world religions.

Meghan Moniaci I would like to see a “My First Hymnal 2” sort of thing. Maybe it could have slightly more difficult music, all verses of select songs, and services printed in it that could be used at home, such as matins.

Brooke Keehl Downloadable can be great for reproducibles in families but I love a good printed book with beautiful pictures for the text of curriculums, especially history. Even artifacts are better in color and home printers cant do most things justice.

Mary J. Moerbe Absolutely true. I agree. But I would have thought they already have a pretty large number of history books.

Meghan Moniaci An alternative to “Sing the Faith.” We love the My First Hymnal CD, and we have much of the small catechism memorized, but we can hardly stand to listen to Sing the Faith for some reason, and even our church organist agrees. Not saying that it has to be like the VBS songs at all, but another music option would be wonderful.

Christine JonesMeghan Moniaci. “Sing the Faith” would be better if the music for each section of the catechism worked together. It is frustrating to try to learn the whole meaning to something in small bits that don’t really fit together as a whole song.

Meghan Moniaci I have zero music talent, but it seems like Sing the Faith should make things easier, not harder, to learn!

Lauri Block Pobanz When our boys were quite a bit younger, we listened to the clips online. My son begged me to NOT buy them. And I agreed.

Martha Schaum We did not care for this either. My children also did not want to listen to it.

Meghan MoniaciI would like to see a “My First Hymnal 2” sort of thing. Maybe it could have slightly more difficult music, all verses of select songs, and services printed in it that could be used at home, such as matins.

Meghan Moniaci We love this book. My son has really began to love the services more since he can remember the notes to songs. He tells everyone that his favorite song is Mighty Fortress! I do feel the price is a bit steep, I feel guilty recommending it to other families as a simple music book at that rate we made the set a Christmas gift.

Pamela Baker Another idea – not just for homeschoolers – The Story Bible – audio book format!

Ashlei Kelly Lunneberg LCMS homeschool “help desk” a dedicated person to field calls from home educators who can point us towards current resources.

Christian Himsel It’d be nice to see a partnership between LCMS, WELS & ELS in the area of elementary school curriculum, esp. in areas like the social sciences, history and general science, etc., where a biblical perspective & worldview (within the textbooks) would be a breath of fresh air. Resources in the area of classical Lutheran education are always appreciated. And lastly, in the area of early childhood, the development of some curricular resources related to Froebel Kindergarten (from a markedly Lutheran vantage point) might prove to be uniquely useful.

Mary J. MoerbeI’ve got it! I want their website to list reading levels for their books! That could be step one in organizing in what order their materials could be read & studied. READING LEVELS, even for their adult material!

Becky FilipekPeople actually would love it if CPH created curriculum for use in home schools and our Lutheran schools. We have smart, educated, talented pastors and laity who could write history textbooks and science textbooks, etc. for all levels. Why do we keep giving the secular textbook companies our Church’s money? Why do we jeopardize our students’ souls with evolutionary content?

PatrickandRachele Whalen Creation science curriculum or reference book or both…I found some good ones @ Answers In Genesis but it would be nice if we had denomination sponsored creation based science books.

Meghan Moniaci Within the last couple of years, a man wrote a letter to the editor in The Witness, and he claimed to be a scientist that also worked for ICR. I wish I had saved that issue to look up any books that he had published. I’m thinking of buying this older one from ICR, suggested in a CCLE list: The Amazing Story of Creation: From Science and the Bible https://www.amazon.com/…/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i…

PatrickandRachele Whalen I just bought the Gods Design For Heaven and Earth by Answers In Genesis. It gets really good reviews and a few people have reccomended it.

Jennifer Luedeke Honestly, the lack of whole family Bible teaching with enrichment activities over the past several year from CPH….I don’t even bother going to CPH for Bible curriculum anymore. I go to homeschool curriculum that is family friendly and doesn’t require me to piece together anything. I don’t have time for that. Grapevine studies and Apologia are a couple I have used. And well…just reading straight from the Bible. A family catachism curriculum would be great too.

Katerina LucianoCheryl Swope,I might also add to CPH it’s so disappointing to kids when they memorize from My First Hymnal (such as the audio CD) and the hymn doesn’t have all verses, when they catch on during the service that it’s not the same, they’re discouraged. We want to teach them to love the hymnody. All of the hymns throughout the church year that are in that book are great. Excellent selection. Let’s give our kids the full course.

Rebecca Gillespie Rowan I was looking for an easy way to teach catechism memory work. I was hoping them had it to song and it fit right in to a curriculum etc. Also, Sunday school based off the 3 year liturgical cycle would be amazing (Sunday school leader here too!).

Shannon Norton Sing the faith is the catechism set to music. My 3.5 year old daughter loves it and can recite the the ten commandments and their meanings because of it. I recommend listening to it first before you buy it though because not everyone enjoys the music.

Lauren HansonMaybe more for the homeschool mother than actually specifically for homeschooling, but it would be great if we could get more serious, meaty, Confessional Bible studies for women.

Katie WackerLauren Hanson I love the look of things like she reads truth (just question the theology). And think things like that could go over well for people in our synod. But would love something like that with good doctrine.

Lauren HansonI love the look of the pretty studies, but it has to be more than a pretty face. I don’t need to be told I’m beautiful or have everything related to chocolate.

Katerina Luciano In the beginner Reading bibles – I think they’re called Hear Me Read, let’s include the crucifixion, please.

Mary J. Moerbe They actually had a phonics set of books for a while. I wish they still offered them. But to leave out the crucifixion? That’s . . . sadly telling.

Katerina Luciano The first Hear Me Read Bible did. I see there’s a new edition coming out, hopeful that it has the crucifixion. We have been happy with the My first story Bible that’s colorful and complete. But it’s not a beginner reader.

Katerina Luciano I wonder, if perhaps CPH and Concordia catechetical Academy might collaborate on materials? We picked up CCA’s Bible Stories set and Catechisms Stories set and love them. The connections between the Old and New Testament for each lesson are amazing. http://lutherancatechesis.org/…See More

Lenita Campbell It would be nice to have a Lutheran academic curriculum like Alpha and Omega, Abeka, etc. other than that, everyone has great ideas.

Michelle Trenery From myself and another LCMS homeschool family: “our homeschooling families would like the hymns of the Sunday School CDs not to include ‘childish’ settings (backbeats, Barney-type arrangements). We’d also like catechetical material that can be used as a daily curriculum for the school year.”

While CPH is not currently equipped to create a full academic curriculum (with math, science, history, etc.) CPH plans to continue to supply faith instruction from early childhood onward. Homeschoolers may choose academic curricula from favorite homeschooling publishers and then supplement with the many resources for faith instruction currently available from CPH.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Among numerous examples, CPH now has the following resources and messages of support:

Remember, too, that the LCMS commissioned this work to support Lutheran homeschoolers. With a foreword by Rev. Matthew Harrison, you may purchase this. I receive no royalties. All proceeds benefit the LCMS:

Concordia Publishing House (CPH) remains committed to serving all families, whether they choose to enroll their children in a parochial school, public school, private school, charter or cottage school, or homeschool. We trust that homeschoolers’ unique gifts will be commended publicly by CPH and homeschoolers’ unique needs will be supported to the greatest extent possible.

Look for more resources, more support, possibly now a stronger binding for The Story Bible, and possibly even a scope & sequence or curriculum map of CPH Homeschool-friendly resources for teaching the faith in the future!